Note to Self: 28mm Warlord Games US M3 Lee Assembly Instructions

I am still wading through the Warlord Games AFV "sprue sale" bargains I picked up. I have to confess, despite my initial forebodings (post purchase click, "Did I need this?"), I am glad really I purchased this M3 Lee. It slotted together perfectly. which is a plus, as a very easy model build and the end product looks quite imposing. In fact it was far easier to build it in 28mm than the multiple Airfix and Hasegawa kits I have put together in 20mm (1/76 and 1/72  in old money). The M3 Lee is an intimidating beast despite its archaic sponson mounted 75mm howitzer (see below, in assembly you could be forgiven in thinking you were putting together a medieval castle): 

It suddenly comes together as a tank when the top is placed on (see below, the M3 Lee 90% there, or there until an 88mm gets the Lee in its sights): 

Complete with radio aerial (and like the Tiger I model I wonder how long the radio aerial is going to last) and a few more fiddly bits - front and rear lights, handrails (see below, the finished "monster", possibly for its crew survival potential rather than fighting ferocity, although a 75mm high explosive shell is highly respected by infantry and anti-tank crews on the Tunisian battlefield): 

Primed in The Colour Forges (Renegade Green) as a primer (see below, using this colour also as a shade colour, with a Vallejo dipping wash to follow in teh recesses, then a new set of greens [Olive Drab and highlights] should lighten its appearance up): 

 

Although "cheap" by buying a loose sprue these online assembly instructions from Warlord Games saved me from stupid errors. Despite the cleaness of the build I had to make study of these, particularly in reference to the turret build and the M3 Lee commanders hatch (see below, Warlord Games M3 Lee Assembly Instructions link): 

https://assembly.warlordgames.com/files/4070200017_M3_Lee_Grant_assembly_booklet.pdf

Another interesting Blog post comparing the plastic kit version (much better IMHO) versus the old resin version!

https://www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-historicals-warlord-games-plastic-m3-lee-grant-review

Benghazi Handicap - Command Decision - WWII North Africa Campaign Source Book [Including Command Decision Scenarios]

Sigh. I finally caught this one. Whenever I had looked for it before, it had eluded me - so when I saw a copy of it at Cavalier Books, I jumped at the chance (see below, Frank Chadwick's masterpiece on the early part the Western Desert War): 

This is my designated playground for 10mm play ground for Pendrakon miniatures, although I do have my old Airfix, Matchbox, PSC, Italeri/Esci collections of 20mm toys that can be used too. I am a sucker for the clanky tank era and this theatre of operation was full of them (usually in a state of burning).

Yes, Command Decision is back onside for me! In truth I never felt it had really left ;) 

WWII Western Desert SAS Book - Speed, Aggression Surprise

Even though I now seem to be a hardened Audible book listener these days, I do still gain pleasure from reading books in the traditional way (see below, ["Speed, Aggression, Surprise"] SAS related - LRDP North African Campaign, but more interestingly informing on miscellanea such as the1941 Levant campaign against the Vichy French and what can be best described as an early form of "strategic Psy-Ops" in the Mediterranean theatre of operations):  

Entertaining, illuminating and therefore "hand on heart", the book can be highly recommended as a good read. The genius behind much of the subterfuge being a little known British officer called Dudley Clarke, with the creation of phantom armies and Axis misdirection being his speciality. If I tried to list all the schemes devised, I would be doing them and him an injustice - instead I can recommend the book. It is sobering to read about the formation of the SAS in the context of this maelstrom of intrigue. Certain unconventional officers having a desire to put their hard earned Commando special training, learnt from the Scottish Highlands to good use, matched equally with the need to avoid standard "military bull". To think of the SAS as one of the many quirky "special forces" units and ideas floating around at the time. The LRDP by contrast being fathered in a more specialised pre-war incubation of foresight, fostered by Wavell, Hobart and Ralph Bagnold. Indeed the success of 1941 Commando Operations was highly debatable with a strong anti-special operations meme from the established military in general. Auchinleck gave the SAS an "in", being named as a parachute unit by accident brought in Clarke's distanced "approval" or "help" (despite a disastrous first parachute operation that nearly killed all the SAS participants) and really saved by the LRDP professionalism. Post North Africa, the SAS seemed to be a solution looking for a problem - "helping" French partisans in guerrilla warfare, almost fitting the bill?  

(1/72-1/76-20mm) Homage to the LRDP and SAS

These were my originals, salvaged from the loft, in a "North Africa Box" - I think they had been lying there for over a decade. The classic Revell-Matchbox LRDP Chevrolet and Jeep, plus a a bunch of Dixon 20mm metal SAS miniatures. They had been mostly base coated so I completed "the gaps" in the coverage (see below, their "potential" is evident): 

The same kit slightly different angle, there must have been a trigger happy cameraman on duty (see below, note the original paints were Tamiya, I toyed with using the  (partial) Tamiya collection I still have, but decided to move onto the Vallejo Game Colour range - partly because it is easier to squeeze out the paint after shaking):  

I decided to add a basic brown/sepia wash (from the dregs of a large Vallejo dipping pot - which I liberally dipped more water into, as not to spoil everything with a tarry residue instead of a light wash) spread over the base paint and then repainted the base colour back over (sparingly) after which I would then follow up with "spot highlighting" later (see below, my frequent chats with the "good" painters from various GW shops seemed to be paying a dividend, transferring 'fantasy techniques' back to historical WW2 and why ever not; a little close up of the detail):  

 

Panning out with the picture to see a wider scope and the "weather worn look" is what I was hoping to achieve (see below, a nice little "nuisance and mischief making" LRDP/SAS combination to harass the Italian and German DAK rear areas): 

Note: The exact painting sequence of these shots might be out of order. 

I plan to use the vehicles and figures as follows: a two man team in the Jeep and a three man team in Chevrolet, hence five SAS dismounts (see below, now I do know I have two more kits somewhere in the loft to pull out and make, so that will represent my SAS Squadron as thankfully I have sufficient Dixon metals to cover them too): 

I do like the animation of the original Matchbox figures (see below, slightly smaller 1/76 as opposed to 20mm metal [Dixon size] but their relaxed posture I think is just right, and of course a man with a classic pointing arm!): 

So there it is, thank you BBC "SAS Rogue Heroes", you certainly bought some life into some old toys I had stashed away :) 

A13 Mk II British Cruiser Tank: 10mm Pendrakon

Time to see how this little fella paints up. Recently picked up from the Battleground 2021 Stockton Show from Pendrakon miniatures(see below, the early war Western Desert Force, the precursor to the famous 8th Army): 

I am keen to build up an early war British force to face against my painted Italians, probably using Sam Mustafa's Rommel as a set of rules. I also have some 8th Army Infantry to paint up. First I should check out what tanks were with the 7th Armoured at this time.

Additional source of inspiration for this Western Desert Force project scenarios courtesy of Bob Mackenzie's website:

• https://testofbattle.com/upload/bob/Pimple_OB.htm
• https://testofbattle.com/upload/bob/

Orders of Battle and Command Decision Websites:

http://www.veridical.co.za/default.aspx?tabid=639

http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm

http://www.veridical.co.za/Default.aspx?tabid=637

Painting Italian 10mm Supports: ATG, HMG and Mortar

The bare silver supports based on 40mm and 30mm wooden discs (see below, ATG - Mortar - HMG):

The crews mounted on coffee stirrer strips (see below, those are quite hard to come by just now, gulp):

Primed with Airfix Acrylic Primer and washed in Vallejo Brown Dipping Wash (see below, this is following the standard infantry painting pattern):

The uniforms are done (see below, Vallejo Desert Yellow with Vallejo Buff mixed in for the highlights):

Supports are painted (see below, Vallejo Desert Yellow)

The crews follow the standard Italia Infantry painting scheme (see below, I am not sure how accurate but the HMGs went from black, to gunmetal, to washed black to dull down, to fine highlights of gunmetal):

The supports are ready for their base texturing (see below, the Italian Infantry seem to be well endowed with supports - the large figure in the background is a D&D Clay Golem monster that he was painting at the same time):

Next: Basing the supports and moving onto the Italian AFVs

Western Desert Italians 10mm Basing

From the coffee stirrers to the 40mm wooden bases (see below, as previously mentioned I had picked the circular bits of wood up from the The Works and annoyingly since that time I have not seen them in the shop again):

The bases get a matte undercoat of Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown (see below, at this point the magic of basing seems to be almost detracting from the paint job):

The (literal) sand-box (or rather box of sand) and watered-down PVA craft glue stage. The PVA is watered down to improve its spread-ability and the sand-box is there for an unsophisticated "dunking and shake around" (see below, a nice passable effect - note, sometimes several PVA applications and dunks were needed, it was left to dry overnight): 

Then a watered down solution of Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown (almost a wash) was applied to the base and soaked up by the sand (see below, again left to dry overnight or at least for a few hours, letting the base solidify for the wet/dry brushing stage):

A bit of experimentation was required. I didn't want to waste the more expensive Vallejo paints n the basing (call me a snob but I reserve then for plastic and metal work) so a little bit of mixing was required as I brought out a range of Anita Acrylics 'yellows' (see below, the basic sand colour was achieved by mixing Golden Yellow with Lemon Yellow in a 40:60 percentage):

Lightening the base layer up with highlights ... experimenting with increasing dosages of Anita Acrylics Lemon Yellow and Antique White (see below, a mixture of "wet brushing", "dabbing" to a pretty much dry brush"):

Examining the result ... from the reverse angle (see below, passing inspection to my eyes):

Does it work though ... (see below, I think so, and after all it is 10mm to be viewed from at least four foot away):

The three settled production stages ... undercoat (shade) brown .. yellow/white (base) mix and highlight bleached yellow (see below, the progression to the end): 

A final dry brush of white ... that is using Anita Acrylics Antique White (see below, applied sparingly where "less is more"):

The final product (see below, a very bright bleached white for the Western Desert, a nice parched feel to it for those going "Up The Blue" - battalion or company [depending on the rules you use] Italian Western Desert Infantry Force):

With the basic Infantry done, it is time to move onto the support weapons (MG, Mtr, ATG) and vehicles (tanks, AC and lorry).

North African Campaign: 8th Army RTR Crusader Squadron

Digging around in the old "model box" I came across a vintage (made some eleven or twelve years ago) squadron of Hasagawa 6pdr armed Crusader III's in North African colours.

They are obviously looking for some DAK or Italians which is a pity because I have not painted many to date, concentrating my early/mid war Germans on France and Russia.

Nevertheless they are an exciting bunch as they are also useful for Tunisia with its eclectic collection of old British and new American kit. Those with fine eyesight may even see decals on the mud-flaps. Wonders will never cease!

As you can see from below I went for "the desert has been rather rough on me look."

This three tank squadron is part of a two squadron formation (I always had the aim of making it to a full three squadron regiment at some point). The currently "part-painted" other squadron being earlier Airfix Crusader I's armed with a 2pdr pop-gun and wacky lewis gun turret at the front. The third squadron was then intended/planned to be comprised of Airfix Crusader II's (just mounting the 2pdrs losing the silly lewis turret) but alas Airfix seem to have discontinued their Crusader kits for the time being.

Methinks unless Airfix releases the Crusader again this regiment will never be finished as intended. Never mind Monty! My get out clause is that around El Alemain all sorts of tanks were thrown together into tank regiments. They seemed to be one light squadron of Crusaders (mixed types) and two "heavies" of Grant/Sherman mixed groups, So I just need to paint up more of the latter.

The "Iron Fist" (see my bookshelf) has a good chapter on the Supercharge operation in the El Alemain battle.
  .

1/72 Mediterranean German Me 109 Fighter

This is an old Matchbox kit that I collected ages ago for no apparent reason other than I liked it. I had always hankered for a Me109 as a kid but I never seemed to get round to doing one.  So when as a bigger kid I saw this kit I could not help myself and picked it up (in London over ten years ago) but had to wait until the mid 2006 before I made it. Initially I was tempted to do the Romanian variant for a wacky Russian front feel (which given my collections would have made more sense) but the German Med paint scheme and markings just caught my eye.

Trouble is it is a bit of lone wolf just now, without even the potential of an Afrika Corp wargame to window dress or a Curtiss Warhawk or Hawker Hurricane IIc to dogfight with.

Anyway this is an eye-candy post while I am in the background painting another bunch of Platoon 20 British late-WW2 infantry (and who knows maybe a Metal Goblin).